Lots of TEX fans are saying they "have heard" the trade is all but completed, hashing out details. No one has a source, however.

Some folks are asking how many players would come back to MIL if a Lucroy/Jeffress/Guerra package was sent to TEX. Considering Lucroy brought back 4 on his own, you could easily be looking at a 3 for 7 or 8...you hardly ever see trades like that made, and for good reason, it's difficult to comprehend at that point. The upper echelon names rumored to be coming back are higher ranked, so that could take the total down to 5 or 6.

Since Rangers are looking for package deal, I assume Brewers then shop the package as a group & individually to other buyers. Long process.--Evan Grant
Very quiet since end of the game. Last time it was this quiet, Lucroy was dealt that evening to CLE.

Other than Lucroy, we do not know if TEX is looking at a SP or a RP...or both. Just like when Smith was attached to CLE for a long time, this keeps the Crew from doing other stuff...though they can still chat and get info. But instead of possibly having several irons in the fire, they really have to prioritize, with the Lucroy/TEX move at the top of the list.

TEX fans all over Twitter wondering if MIL wants Elvis Andrus. How many 20-22 year olds does Stearns have to acquire before they realize he is NOT taking lower level kids because he has to, it's because he wants to.

A week or so ago, rumor had it MIL loves Gallo and really likes Leody Taveras and plenty of young TEX arms. We'll see if that is enough to get a deal done. Remember, I had Lucroy/Nelson going to TEX a couple weeks ago. Wouldn't that be something?

Mets are back in on Lucroy, per ESPN. Offer from last night is back on table, thought to be TDA, Nimmo, and another prospect(s). Are debating internally whether or not to improve offer.

MIL was said to insist on Conforto being included, NYM resisted. However, NY media is reporting Conforto has been made available in other proposed trades. Again, if a pitcher is included, that might change things.

Reports indicate MIL would take TDA, but views him more as a secondary piece.

Also, Nimmo must be having a good game, shortsighted Mets' fans, after saying all day yesterday "who cares about Nimmo?" now want him to stay. Heh.

Views up 76% FRI, up 26% SAT, already up 12% SUN, and the day ain't over. And weekends are usually far lower than weekdays.

It's times like this that I wish I had something to say instead of all this clumsily worded drivel. Me gonna go bike now, any updates will be added on phone, so overall use of language may be worser than usual. If you're offended, it's free.

Per Nightengale, Lucroys says he was told he would be backup C/1B/DH in 2017, CLE says that no playing time guarantees would be made.

To be honest, while I know Jon wants to catch 120 games, a lesser year of wear and tear (and a lower risk of injury) is probably the best thing he could happen to him. He did not agree, and is still in MIL.

Crew ended up with a seemingly better deal after Mets pretended to see medical issues on Gomez (and he has been hurt a lot, just not in the area NYM said they were concerned about. HOU felt so bad they had missed out on him, they added more talent, Crew added Fiers to get Phillips included.

Mystery teams ID'd as Dodgers and Cubs, both of them may have went to bed cursing that "they should have added player X" and may do so now.

Or, MIL may run out of time, focus on others, and have to do a deal in the offseason. Stearns will speak soon, per the JS.

The White Sox gave Duke that hellish contract and were looking to rid themselves of it about 5 minutes later. Zach has continued to pitch pretty well as a loogy, and they actually get a decent prospect out of it, though Tilson profiles as a platoon/reserve guy, he's only 23 and has plenty of time to develop.

If 1.33 years of Duke is worth that, 3.33 years of Jeffress or Smith is probably worth a lot more. Torres too.

At the very least, Lucroy and his agent appear to be taking ths opportunity to politely ask for some incentive(s) to waive the no trade, because like when you are offered a job, you know they want you, so you ask for more money and vacation. Sometimes, you get it easily, sometimes they negotiate, and sometimes they tell you to take it or leave it.

To answer a couple questions.

Yes, it's good for the Brewers to have Lucroy make up his mind quickly, so they know. If he declines, they may want to offer him up again, as they did Gomez last year, and could even end up with a better deal, as they did with Carlos. They can move on to other trades, other priorities. Lucroy is the most valuable, so he is the proverbial 1000 pound gorilla in the room.

The one thing I keep thinking is, how bad Jon would look if he says "all I want to do is win" and then fails to live up to the contract he signed. It's not like if he says no, he comes back to the Brewers with a raise. Would he rather play for $X in CLE for a contender or $X in MIL for a rebuilding club?

But, even if he knows in the back of his mind he'll accept regardless, it's not in his best interest to make that public.

We are at a crossroads in baseball...a few years ago, closers were vastly overrated...you could slap a "proven closer" label on Joe Career Middle Relief Guy because of a couple 30 save campaigns for a 65 win team, and suddenly he was worth far more. Numbers oriented GM's ripped off older, "he's got a lot of grit and heart" GM's so much that the value of closers, salary wise and trade market wise, has fallen immensely.

But, because teams know that most closers are just relievers pitching the 9th instead of the 6th or 7th, we have created something known as the "elite closer"...a guy who is dominant, and whose stuff is electric. Chpman and Miller are probably both in the top 3 in MLB, and as proof of how valuable that is, the Yankees have been outscored by 30 runs and are now sellers.

If there's one spot where veteran leadership is not a tired cliche, it's the catcher position. No idea how much he makes either, but MIL has a very low payroll and would gladly pay a vet to help develop their young staff...which might well get younger in the next 36 hours.

Brewers are better-positioned than the Cardinals for 2019 forward. Maybe 2018.--Joe Sheehan

It's a fascinating way to go about it, I must admit. Stearns keeps adding athletic, up the middle kids in AA and below without a remote concern for where they end up playing, or anything else. I compare him to a guy who likes to date beautiful women...doesn't care about hair color, skin color, religion, or anything else. He knows what he likes and ignores the rest. Mets fans kept saying to trade Granderson, while in reality, Stearns doesn't want a AAA kid, never mind a veteran like that.

Least surprising part of this trade, as reported: Brewers get
up-the-middle dudes in return. Catcher, shortstop, center
fielder.--Adam, MLB.com

Also, lower level guys,
2 A+, one AA. All the predictions were AAA and majors. I told them
that's not how Stearns does business. They just refuse to pay attention
to what he does.

All have good OBP's also, and as Adam points out, are athletic enough to play middle of the field spots, at least for now. All young for their level, 1-3 years younger than average for their league.Finally, none have to be added to the 40 man roster until after 2017. Stearns looks to stockpile those guys, or at least, has so far.

Until we hear Lucroy has approved this trade, this is Gomez to the
Mets stuff, where we always wonder what Wheeler and Flores would have
done as Brewers.

Also, still no consensus on who 4th player is.

I
also find it funny that casuals are complaining they got another SS.
They have no idea most quality 2B/3B begin their career as SS's...heck,
in tonight's game, Scooter, Villar, and Hernan Perez all began as SS's

Rosenthal reports rival GM's feel CLE will end up with Lucroy, package highlighted by Mejia, young A ball catcher with 40 game hitting streak, who was ranked as rheir 2nd best prospect per Stearns' favorite metric, KATOH.

Crasnick reports Rangers tried again this afternoon, and are now out on Lucroy.

Adam reports delay could be working out no trade clause, or simply final discussions.

Many on Twitter speculating Lucroy has asked CLE to guarantee him his salary for next season to waive the no trade clause. Most teams wait until the season is complete to do this, just in case of injury. That said, that would hardly seem to be an issue...however, it could be a bother getting it written up and official in a timely manner.

Heard two pitchers in Mets organization Brewers like are Szapucki and Lugo.--Matt Ehalt
Lugo is ranked 26 but is also 26 years old. Szapucki is ranked 8th, 20, in A ball, and in desperate need of a vowel for his surname; makes more sense.

Someone on Twitter just said if all we get for Lucroy is Nimmo and TDA, might as well wait until winter to move him.

Sadly, that pretty much sums up my viewpoint as well. Nimmo is a nice 23 y/o player, and TDA is a passable catcher, but if that's all Lucroy garners them, you could argue the extra pick is almost as valuable, and you get Lucroy working with a young staff for this year and next.

Sources: Mets made three-player offer to Brewers for Lucroy, headed by d’Arnaud. Second piece believed to be Nimmo or comparable player.--Rosenthal

Twitter folks keep saying TDA/Cecchini/Dilson or TDA/Nimmo/Dilson. That is more than likely just a common package heard on talk radio, as the Mets have been saying they will not give up their #1/2 guys, Rosario or Smith.
I doubt it is true though, as no lower level guys and no pitching do not compute...of course, that could also be why Stearns wants another package.

UPDATE: Joel Sherman says Brewers are "known to be fond of Nimmo" so that makes sense.

UPDATE 2: If the Crew is insisting on another or better prospect, a compromise may eventually be reached by MIL including a lesser prospect for "balance." That's probably why Tyler Wagner, a mediocre high floor/low ceiling pitcher, likely to settle in middle relief, was included in the Segura/Diaz ARI swap...teams get uncomfortable at 3 for 1's or 4 for 1's, as they look foolish if that guy is injured or slumps.

The Brewers continue to be engaged with the Mets in talks for catcher Jonathan Lucroy, who fits NYM in this way: $4m salary '16, $5.25m '17.--Olney

I have not seen one realistic rumor...they all have the Crew getting TDA and either major league or AAA players back. Stearns has shown many times he either prefers or does not mind taking lower level players (my guess, he prefers high ceiling guys regardless of the level), so if a deal is struck, I would expect to see TDA, a AA/AAA prospect, and a couple A ball kids. I could be wrong, but considering the pure fiction online (one site, LG Mets, keeps tweeting out a trade has been completed, and then deletes it. Ten minutes later, it repeats.

The Rambling son and I went out for brunch today, at about 11:15, as the Rambling wife woke up not feeling 100%, and she wanted to rest up as she's supposed to visit a friend a couple hours away this afternoon. We went to our local family place, which serves huge portions for $6-9.

I ordered the country fried steak, which I get with eggs, fried potatoes, and pancakes. He got a sausage and cheddar omelet, with hash browns and pancakes. I was feeling full as I finished the steak, so asked for a to go container for my pancakes. He cleaned his plate.

Even more interesting, he had ate a light breakfast a few hours earlier, and I had not eaten since last night.

Oh that's right. Anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of basic economics. You can't artificially raise the expenses without effecting the entire profit margin. In doing so, they either have to raise prices or lower the service level...or both.

As I have said often, why $15? Why not $100/hr? $750/hr.

Folks reply, oh Al, that's just silly.

So is $15. It's a ploy by unions to boost their pay rate, as their contracts are often tied to the minimum wage. Entry level jobs are very simple and require little/no education or skills. That's why they're entry level. People go to school to learn how to do things that allow them to make $30K a year...that's what $15/hr is.

Seems like a totally different vibe this AM on Lucroy...last night, it seemed as if he may be moved at any second, this morning, it looks like a deal may wait until the offseason.

Rosenthal is asking whether the Brewers will "settle" for less than their asking price or wait and see what the market is when the campaign is complete. At some point, that question will answer itself, barring a team just giving in and throwing prospects at Stearns.

The Giants are said to be "very much on" the Brewers' back of the bullpen options. As difficult as the Lucroy trade is to finish, adding in a Smith or Jeffress seems impossible.Whatever trades go down, they'll probably be separate transactions.

The thing is, men hate her...and women really hate her. Almost all my clients are 65+, and if her name comes up, the most complimentary response is a curled up face and a shake of the head. I guess she does well with younger women, who just ignore the evil since she's got lady parts.

Jeremy Jeffress has the lowest average exit velocity in major league baseball this year (min. 100 batted balls). Hence, Brewers want a ton.--Jon Judge

No reason to trade him unless they get a ton. I keep seeing fans say he's worth a decent prospect...unless you get a player (or 2-3) with a higher ceiling, why make the trade? Team control through 2019.

The Dallas Morning News is reporting the Brewers had a scout at the Rangers/Royals game tonight, and TEX is looking at a Lucroy/reliever or Lucroy/Guerra or Nelson package.

That's funny to me, because a week ago, I guessed who would go where before I predicted who would stay and who would go, and I had Lucroy and Nelson going to TEX with Profar and 3-4 prospects coming back...and then Stearns dealing Profar for 2-3 prospects as well.

I would say this is probably a
velocity/strikeout claim, as he averaged more than 11 K/9 last year in
AA and AAA, and per Fangraphs, averaged 94.1 on his fastball, also
having a split finger and a slider.--Ramblings the day they claimed Guerra

Too bad I would not have said "this guy is a sleeper to be in the rotation and be in demand at the deadline." This is why teams chase guys who throw hard. Because you never know.

Glenn has a point here...the old media has been crying wolf so long (Mitt Romney is evil? Seriously? Mitt would sanitize his mouth with Listerine before gargling with Listerine.) about how evil the GOP nominee is, no one listens anymore.

Blue Jays, Dodgers, Indians, Orioles and Yankees among the clubs with scouts at Pirates-Brewers game tonight.--Adam, MLB.com
Might be looking at Lucroy, Guerra, or relievers on both teams. Heck, Scooter or Carter could be an improvement for someone.

Twitter says mystery team must be either Dodgers or Cubs, because both have the prospects to outbid others.

Just for fun, I'll guess the Blue Jays. They could use Lucroy at C/1B, and they are in "all in" mode, with Bautista/Encarnacion both in their final season under contract and an aging roster. Could use a reliever too.

Every person I've ever met that dislikes banks doesn't understand the first thing about economics. Remember when Barney Frank introduced that bill that banks could not "discriminate" against people that could not pay them back? It led directly to the housing implosion.

Not sure if they would discuss this with him before or if they would wait until they had an agreement.

EDIT: Some folks are saying that this is the original no trade list from when Jon signed the contract years ago...my first thought is it was odd DC was on it. Some are saying he may ask for more money next year or an extension to waive it. I doubt it...why would he want to sign an extension with a team he has never been with? More money? Well, he has said he wants to play for a contender, and it seems unlikely MIL will contend next season either.

EDIT 2: Crasnick reports the no trade list is his updated 2016 version. Not outdated.

Jon Morosi reporting the Red Sox are "aggressively on Lucroy" this morning.

So funny to see the Mets and BOS both losing yesterday after having the lead going into the 9th. The Mets especially, with all that good pitching, have so many injuries, they are seriously at risk of missing the playoffs. And BOS is one of the most negative fan bases on the planet, though all NE USA cities are painfully pessimistic.

Yesterday, Milwaukee asked teams with interest to make offers of a
certain “minimum standard,” Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (Twitterlinks).
It’s not entirely clear whether the request was for best and final
offers, but Rosenthal adds that discussions are still taking place.

Among several teams to put their chips on the table are the Mets, per
the report. With the Brewers still evaluating their options, multiple
teams remain in the hunt.--MLBTR

One more thing to keep in mind...until a Lucroy trade is completed (or they decide to keep him), it's very difficult to move on to possible trades involving the bullpen, because many swaps may include Jeffress, Smith, or others. Not to overly simplify things, but if Stearns is working with a team on a Lucroy/Smith trade, Matt Arnold can't be talking to another about who they would give up for Smith...well, he can, but it's probably not a good use of his time.

Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy continues to be a hot name on the trade rumor circuit, but multiple opposing executives and general managers say that first-year general manager David Stearns is driving a hard bargain.

There is a sense Lucroy may stay put through the end of the season, though the Brewers are fourth in the NL Central with a 44-56 record.

“I don’t blame him,” an NL scout said of Stearns. “He’s holding all the cards. He has an All-Star catcher on a reasonable contract who he can keep for another year. There is no pressure to trade him now. If the Brewers don’t get want they want, they can just put him back on the market in the winter.”

While Lucroy is in the final guaranteed season of his five-year, $10.28 million deal, there is also a very affordable $5.25 million club option for 2017 with a meager $25,000 buyout.

The Brewers turned down the New York Mets’ offer of catcher Travis d’Arnaud in a straight-up trade for Lucroy. However, a Brewers’ source indicated they like d’Arnaud and would be willing to make the deal if the Mets sweeten their offer.--Heyman

He's right...Lucroy might garner a better offer in the offseason, when teams could possibly include a young player(s) on the 25 man that they may be unwilling to move during the season. That said, I don't see it.

A MLB exec says he cannot believe the offers he is hearing the Crew did not even consider seem very fair to him.

So far, these seem like good signs. DET is said to be out (it is arguable if they were ever truly "in," based on their extremely weak system), leaving the Mets and Tribe, and possibly the Red Sox and Rangers plus those "mystery teams."

This is why eyewitness testimony is the least reliable. People see a guy throw a ball into CF on a breezy Sunday in June, and they think they suck the rest of their career.

Despite constant reminders, casuals always forget most bases are stolen on the pitcher. I assume the main reason for Jon's improvement this year is that the pitchers are doing a much better job...even Garza, who never throws to 1B, varies his delivery and timing to make it difficult to get a good jump.

Hillary Clinton must not be President—but not because she is a woman.
Hillary Clinton cannot be president of the United States because she is
not trustworthy.

Republicans cannot be afraid to expose her
lies, her failures, and her corruption. We must throw those punches all
day long if we’re going to defeat Hillary in November.--Carly Fiorina

Gotta fight like a girl...can't be afraid to pull hair or groin kick in this election. Heck, Hillary has lied her way this far and stayed in a loveless marriage for decades. Gotta do whatever it takes.

Gavin Cecchini, the Mets #3 prospect, is being mentioned a lot on Twitter as being part of the proposed Lucroy trade. At this moment, he is a AAA SS, but if you read his scouting reports, they say he could handle 2B or 3B as well. He is 22, very young for AAA. He's about the same age as other parts of the nucleus, Arcia, Phillips, Ray, and Hader.

The reason it makes sense to me is that he walks a lot and has versatility, two Stearns' staples.

And, yes, he is the brother of Garin, the former Red Sox prospect who the Crew acquired last offseason, who has spent the season at AAA Colorado Springs playing 1B/3B.

No idea if there's anything to it or not, but he is not playing tonight for Vegas, the Mets' AAA club.

The 2nd most popular rumor is that the Crew asked for OF Michael Conforto and the Mets said no. Conforto was a #1 pick in 2014 and was often called the best college hitter in that draft. After a superb 2015 (841 OPS) he struggled a bit this year (727 OPS) and was sent to AAA for a while, though the Mets are not known to promote players and let them work through slumps. His only weakness is he has not hit LHP yet in the majors, though he did fine in the minors.

Of course, could just be posturing, as the more teams that show interest, the more likely it is one goes nuts and makes a huge offer. Still, TDA and a couple top 5 Mets' prospectsmight be as good as they end up with. Who knows, Stearns might have a team interested in TDA now that it has gone public he was offered. He's a solid C, if he can stay on the field.

The Mets have blown saves in the 9th the last two games, so they may be willing to expand the deal to include Jeffress or another reliever too. That might make players available that were not a while back.

EDIT: Just a thought...did the Crew "reengage" the Mets or are they going around asking every team for a final offer? HOU said today their interest in Lucroy was "overstated"...did the Crew ask them to better their offer and they politely declined?

I find it strange people do not seem to understand why teams wait to make trades. Of course, some teams may not make an offer at all until late. They may feel they are not in the race, but the owner or a winning streak prods them to "go for it." Some teams decide to sell at the last minute too.

But the main reason? Panic. A week ago, CLE fans were saying there was no way they'd trade any of their top 6 prospects at all, never mind for a catcher "they don't really need." Many said the top 10 were untouchable.

One fan suggested Gomes/Shaw for Lucroy...never mind Gomes is the regualr C who is hurt, has a 500 OPS this year, and Shaw is a reliever and pretty much everyone agrees they need to ADD relief arms.

This week? Trade everyone! Would they take Zimmer and Frazier (both top 25 prospects in all of MLB) for Lucroy? I saw one fan offer their top 5 prospects (plus any C the Brewers want) for Lucroy and Smith.

Now, is the real world like this? Of course not. But, players who were not available before have been made available "for the right price" now.

Did a Twitter search for Lucroy before the game. All I got was hundreds of folks complaining about how weak the lineup was, and how the Crew did not stand a chance. My goodness, even the DBacks TV team, who you think would be fairly knowledgeable, actually said, "Robbie Ray should just cruise through this lineup. No offense meant of course."

They're all major leaguers. Obviously, they would not be in the upper half of the NL in offense if that was their starting lineup...but, neither is the regular group. In one game, anything is very possible...that's why that one game wildcard is such a crapshoot.

Found while looking for somethng else...the Red Sox have 22 home games left...and 41 road contests.

I don't think I've ever seen such a disparity, unless an arena or ballpark was unavailable due to remodeling or a political convention. BOS may be in the playoffs if the season ended today, but they are going to have to outperform their performance thus far to remain there.

The Brewers weren’t impressed at all by the Mets’ offer for Jonathan Lucroy, which centered around Travis d’Arnaud.
Heyman cites Brewers sources as saying they’ve been offered better
catchers than d’Arnaud and still passed on moving Lucroy just yet.
Right-hander Junior Guerra,
having a surprisingly strong season as a 31-year-old rookie, has
generated some trade interest, but there’s been little interest in
either Chris Carter or Ryan Braun at this stage.--Heyman, via MLBTR
I like TDA, but he has had trouble staying healthy and while younger than Lucroy, is certainly not "young" like an Arcia or Brett Phillips. It's apparent Stearns like younger players, and if he did get TDA, it might well be to trade him in the offseason.

Counsell obviously felt it was worth "making a point" to Villar today, as with the LHSP going, he has to start both Flores and Nieuwenhuis.

Lucroy, Braun, Villar, and Wilkins is probably one of the most talented benches put on a lineup card this season. Needless to say, the Brewers are not in a situation that a single win is going to keep them out of the playoffs. If they were, we wouldn't be wondering about Lucroy being traded.

Sharp eyed Mets' fans noticed their #2 prospect, Dom Smith, was taken out of his AA game last night after a pair of PA's. No idea if it was related...after all, Lucroy played the entire game last night, but be it injury or the fact he is a trade possibility, it could make a difference as to what is being offered.

It appears Milwaukee is trying to package Lucroy and a reliever such as left-hander Will Smith. The Brewers are looking for at least two top prospects, with an emphasis on pitching, and a couple of other players for such a package.--Paul Hoynes

Which is what I've been saying for a couple weeks, so nothing new. However, taking a look at that wish list, it is very difficult not to see similarity between the current wants and the Gomez/Fiers deal.

The Indians have spoken to the Brewers about both Lucroy and left-handed reliever Will Smith, according to Crasnick (on Twitter).
A left-handed reliever has long been said to be one of Cleveland’s top
priorities, so the addition of Smith to talks is natural and one that
we’ve speculated upon in the past. The 27-year-old Smith was in the mix
to be Milwaukee’s closer but suffered a freak knee injury in Spring
Training and missed upwards of two months due to a partially torn LCL.
He somewhat improbably avoided surgery and is back in the Milwaukee
’pen, with a 3.72 ERA and an 18-to-8 K/BB ratio in 19 1/3 innings. Smith
took his game from solid relief arm to lights-out lefty last season
when he posted a 2.70 ERA with 12.9 K/9 against 3.4 BB/9 in 63 1/3
innings and is controllable through 2019.--MLBTR

This is barely worth mentioning, as it is a repeat of the same rumors we've heard for weeks. But, whether it is based on fresh news or not, it is being reported as such.

Danial Norris or Matt Boyd, Joe Jimenez, and one of DET's 3 top prospects (Burrows/Hill/Stewart) would be a "starting off" point in discussions for Lucroy. Now, would MIL accept it? Probably not, but it is enough to be taken seriously.

Wouldn't be surprised at all if only reason Tigers are in on Lucroy is to drive price up on Indians. Don't be fooled. DET system is EMPTY.--Christian Riley
That was almost exactly what I was thinking. The proposed offers by DET fans are offensive...the minor leaguers would not be in the top 20-25 of MIL. They could do it with a couple young guys on the 25 man roster...but that's like siphoning brake fluid out of your car into your power steering container...what good is solving one problem while creating another?

EDIT: Found this link, Norris or Boyd would have to be part of a package, and neither are technically "rookies" so neither are listed on DET's list.

Yesterday it was "well, teams aren't into the price for Lucroy right now." Today's its "everyone is involved. Better act fast."--TJ Zuppe

Something seems to have got the ball rolling. Teams overreact to everything this time of year.

I was watching the end of the Tigers/Red Sox game today while riding my exercise bike and the announcers acted like someone have had over their puppy, having just been swept 3 games by DET, and now have an
11 game west coast trip.

Crasnick says progress is being made in Lucroy trade talks...though he's in the lineup tonight, so there's not close to an agreement.

Always doubtful when he doesn't even have a team. CLE lost again today, and both Smith and Jeffress pitched last night, proving they are healthy, so some sort of Lucroy/reliever package that has been rumored for weeks does make sense.

EDIT: According to Crasnick, the Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros, New York Mets, and Boston Red Sox all have interest, in addition to a "mystery team."--Scout

The "mystery team" is almost certainly ATL.

EDIT 2: Rosenthal adds DET is interested in Lucroy...I have discussed them before, and they do not have the prospects to make it happen...though one supposes they could include pieces from the big league roster or involve a 3rd team, though that's not common for deadline trades.

Remember, it was Trump who irritated Obama so much he released his birth certificate...though it was the short form, not the long form many have asked for. He has a way of lightly rubbing folks...like a pebble in your shoe...and they finally throw their hands up and think it's easier to give up the info.

Many note that this would be the job of the old media, if they only cared enough to ask.

Mike pitched very well, in fact, his last 3 outings he pitched 2.1 innings each, so I assume they wanted him "lengthened out" a bit and to pitch/sit/pitch/sit/pitch, as that seems an unlikely coincidence he got 7 outs just by situation.

Hopefully, it's just a minor setback for Barnes, as he has pitched wonderfully. I have to imagine that slider is tough on the arm, however.

Rosenthal says many teams want Lucroy, but most do not want to meet the asking price. At some point, the markets will meet...or the Crew will just hang onto him until the offseason.

David Stearns is asking for teams their "number 1 prospect and 1 or 2 mid-level guys" for Jeremy Jeffress--Jim Duquette

Lazy reporting from former GM Duquette...teams "#1 prospects" are not equal, some teams do not even have a single player in the top 100, some have 7. It's like saying you'll trade me your cabin for my #1 car...well, in my case, that would be the Saturn Vue the Rambling wife drives, but one of the neighbors has a big, nearly brand new truck...they are not equal.

I thought Jeffress would end up going to SF for a guy ranked in the 90's and another player as well, and that package still sounds about right. However, if DS thinks he can get more, I wish him the best. Remember, the only player he "had" to move was Aaron Hill. All the others in rumors are under team control through 2017, and many far longer.

After his success last year in relief, I'm surprised no one is looking at him in that role. Joe Blanton is doing a fine job for the Dodgers. I know teams prefer guys with big velocity, but almost every team has run through double digits of relievers by now, you'd think it might be in their best interest to have a wily veteran or two out there.

He's a cheap, very logical option for a contender, especially one who needs a 4th OF who can play all 3 spots...even better if all their starting OF's are RH bats. If he were nontendered this winter, he'd have interest from a dozen teams...he never has cleared waivers, despite being DFA'd several times. He and Boyer would both be fine players to trade now and try to bring back in the offseason.

What does school choice accomplish? No parent will knowingly send their child to a crappy school if they have the option not to. If they do not have a choice due to financial reasons, it may take a couple years, but those schools will simply not be able to function due to a lack of tax revenue coming in.

The Dems insist throwing money at bad schools will work...even though it hasn't yet.

Of course, tell me a problem the Dems do not think throwing money at will solve...

Elizabeth Warren reminds me of every teacher that made me hate going to school growing up.--Meghan McCain
How did she ever pass herself off as a Native American? She might be the whitest woman who has ever lived?

All that's left is to set up rape tents and have a biological hazmat team come out to clean up the human waste. If the old media is unable to clean it up to look peaceful and innocuous, this could be the gift that keeps on giving.

Many folks on Twitter are insisting (hopefully, I think) that Chapman, a rental, being worth so much actually increases Lucroy's value because the Crew can say "Hey, we can hang onto for another whole year and still get 2 top prospects and 2 others."

True? Yes. we can all wish that's how it works out. In truth, Jon could hit 1B wrong tonight and need surgery and be out until AUG17. That's why it's a risk.

I just saw a comparison that showed Lucroy and DArnaud's numbers were all but identical since June 27th. Cherry picking like that is par for the course, but there is some truth to it...there's only two months remaining, and it's possible Lucroy could have a .200 OBP or a .400 OBP in those two months...that's why small samples don't mean a whole lot.

We're about an hour into Dem convention coverage, and we've already seen more bad behavior than we did all last week. That will not go over well in flyover country, where people tire of such silliness very quickly.

Moore is a hack...I read this twice, and I'm not sure exactly what he's getting at. He just wrote a quick piece about casual fans being casual without really having a point.

The funny thing is, one has to take from this season, and in a way, last season too, is we can use this as a way to separate the knowledgeable fan from the bandwagon climbers, and the "he hit ball long way, why don't he just throw ball faster?" folks whose understanding of the game is so minimal common sense is pointless.

Melvin took over a moribund franchise and after a few years, had a success cycle that lasted for, depending on your definition, from 2006-2013/2014. They were contenders most seasons, and in the years they were not, still were competitive, finishing close to .500 annually. Injuries and a lack of depth, both small market ailments that many pretend not to see, often played a huge part. One look at the Twins this season shows you the same thing.

Stearns is using a different approach, one I have often stated is probably preferred, the "tear it all down and start over" approach. You know that old shack on the outskirts of town that is several different colors, patched up just to get through "one more year?" It's the opposite of that, as Dave has torn it down to the foundation and is attempting to have it look nice one brick at a time...even going for younger players, often years away from the majors, in an effort to add more, controllable talent, some call it the "pyramid method"...build the base wide, and eventually, enough guys will rise to the top, in this case, Milwaukee.

Many folks lack the patience to do this properly, because they are not young and don't have a long term contract in their back pocket. True fans will enjoy the journey. Others will complain and insist a 68 win rebuilding club is far worse than a 75 win team built to contend that has failed to gel.

If the Dems do this right, they can use it as a "let's all get on the same page and beat that darn Trump" week. However, it could be as bad as one can imagine, because the Sanders' camp is basically just a bunch of hooligans.

I am absolutely dying today at all the Hillary supporters tweeting that Malik Obama's birth certificate needs to be checked.--Rick Fuller

The old media barely reported it, but let us not forget, the only birth certificate controversy in 2008 was the left making sure John McCain was eligible, having been born on a US military base. Trump convinced Obama to finally make his public, even though he did not need to...and as far as I know, never did produce the proper one, the "long form."

Hearing there are a lot of protestors in Philly...but because it's so hot, they haven't had the staying power, dispersing in the hot afternoon sun with plans to return later. After a nap and some drug use rest, they haven't been making it back.

Remember, Occupy ended, as I predicted, because it got chilly in the fall, so they all went home to mom and dad's house. It's not a very rugged group.

I saw one report that the most loud and boisterous exchange witnessed thus far was because their bottled water was not cold.

The Rambling wife bought a couple "cooling towels" that you put around your neck or wear as a headband for when they visit Disney. She uses them on her walks when it's hot and they work wonderfully. They stay cool regardless, and especially so when soaked in cold water.

I wonder why the players don't wear them when on the field, I'm sure you could pin them somehow to keep them in place. Might have to wear them out of sight, so maybe they are.

Lastella was an "easy out" at 2B, but if the throw is anything but perfect, if it's offline or weak, he makes it. Guys are taking more chances on the base paths, because there are not a lot of 10-7 and 8-6 games anymore. Many casuals are slow to figure that out.

Guerra is a pretty good hitting pitcher. If they see that alignment again, with the 2B basically playing for the bunt between the mound and 1B, they will probably just hit let swing away and try to hit a ball to the right side. They're trying to take away the bunt, but risking the base hit...I assume it's basically a ploy to protect the fragile psyche of Lester.

The thing about Lester allowing so many stolen bases is the same as allowing walks...for the most part, you still need a hit to score them, even if they run wild. That one year the Padres were only throwing out like 5% of the runners, Doug commented when he was on with the TV guys that it did not seem to hurt them.

I was just thinking while I was riding my bike during the first couple innings, Middlebrooks looks to be one of the best defensive 3B the Crew has had in a long time. That might be why he keeps getting so many chances, despite weak offensive numbers for several years.

Why? Teams probably love the fact his arm is getting a few days off before they get him. The White Sox are probably thrilled they have an excuse to just sit him so he can't get hurt (ATL had Teheran go down, though he was probably staying put anyway).

My first thought when I saw Profar was being offered by TEX, though most likely for a SP...I doubt Stearns would have any interest in him, as he only has 3 years of service time remaining after the current campaign.

My second thought...Profar plus 2-4 prospects for Lucroy and Nelson seems like a fair swap. Stearns could then offer Profar up to teams who want a 2B/SS/3B, as he's probably the best of each on the market...and get another 2-4 prospects, especially if paired with a reliever.

The rebuild started when Yo was traded; Tom H was just not intelligent enough to see it, then or now.

The one part of this long winded piece that is accurate is something I've been saying for a few weeks...where Villar plays next will be determined by what prospects are acquired. If they would get Gallo or some other nearly ready 3B, Villar will likely move to 2B (whenever Arcia is promoted) and Scooter will be dealt, in the offseason at the latest. If they do not, the infield could well be 1B/Scooter/Arcia/Villar to begin 2017.

I've wondered a few times aloud if Scooter would like to sign an extension, though I have no idea if Stearns would have any interest, as of this second, he has yet to sign a single player to a multiyear contract.

Al,Went to my 1st game of the season tonight, and I heard at least a pair of people say what you said a while ago. Basically, "this season is so much less stressful than back when they were winning." I know back in 2011, if they had a 1 run lead in the 8th and 9th inning, my stomach would start to hurt. Just imagine if the bullpen would have been bad, as KRod and Axford were as good as it gets. Tonight, even before the HR, it was like "I hope they win, but, not a big deal." Nick

I can't say I get stressed, as it's just a game, but I see the point...it's almost like watching a game between a couple generic teams, like turning on the TV and seeing the Rays/Mariners are on...it's an enjoyable way of passing the time, but hardly important. We know it makes little difference in the long run if they win 70 or 71 this year.

Yankees telling teams they are close to trading Chapman. Just as important, they are keeping Miller.

This will likely help set the market for Smith, as he's certainly not as dominant, but is also under team control for 3+ seasons. Plus, the teams that would have liked Chapman or Miller will be forced to look for lesser alternatives. Smith may now be the best LH reliever available, and might be one of the top 3-5 relievers that throw with either arm.

No one asks out the cute girl in the band until the cheerleaders are off the market.

I made pulled pork for supper tonight (no, my work is never done). I slid the crock pot into place about 11, put the frozen like a bowling ball boneless ribs in, added some water, pepper, and garlic powder; and turned it on. We ate about 7, and afterwards, the Rambling son was cleaning up, he reported the crock pot must have leaked out juice behind it.

Turns out, I had put the crock pot about a foot in front of the butter tray. Butter does not handle residual heat well. Most of a stick melted away in the course of 8 hours.

For whatever reason, I was reminded of the Rambling mom, who in this case, would have made a mental note to buy more butter at the coop where they sent their milk. They always bought all their cheese and butter from there...even though it was far from inexpensive. I recall them paying $4-5 for a block of cheese 3 decades ago, and not only is it $1.49 for 8 ounces NOW at Aldi or Wal Mart, I recall being shocked to see cheese on sale for 79 or 99 cents when I moved to Eau Claire and would shop for myself. I have no doubt it was good cheese, and it may have been aged a tad longer, but the reason was simple...she did not have to pay for it. They just deducted it from the check they sent each month.

I recall many financial gurus always telling folks to automatically deduct 5-10% from your check into a savings or investment account. I guess it's the same concept...you don't miss what you never see.

2. Glenn said a few weeks ago if he were in charge of the GOP, he'd print up thousands of Stein stickers and pamphlets and distribute them on college campuses in swing states. I thought it was brilliant then, and I still do.

Every time Clayton Richards comes into pitch, I wonder why he's still with the Cubs. He's 32, has a 6ish ERA the past 3 years, and the only positive I can say about him is used to be a SP, so maybe he could give you 2-3 frames if a starter was unable to go some night.

Amazingly, the fight centered on Sale’s disdain for the White Sox’s
throwback uniforms. Sale didn’t want to put them on, so he cut all of
them up to prevent anyone from wearing them, relays Tommy Stokke of
FanRag Sports.
FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal subsequently corroborated Stokke’s report,
adding that Sale first requested Chicago not wear the uniforms because
they’re uncomfortable. When the White Sox declined, Sale became livid
because, in his view, the franchise decided to prioritize p.r. and
jersey sales over winning.--MLTR

Wow. Destruction of property and just in general, being an ignorant, selfish oaf.

Would I want him taking the ball on my team every 5th day? Yes.

Would I go out of my way to avoid him and hate the fact he's around the other 4.

Flores has smacked the ball hard twice tonight, is 0-2. His line is artificially low for a number of reasons....270 BAbip, often starts versus LH SP because he hits them better than Nieuwenhuis, and when he doesn't start, he often PH's against a LHP because the RH hitters started and since he hits them somewhat, is called on before other southpaw bats.

I'm the first to say he's likely overmatched as an everyday player, at least at 24, but has no options and looks to be a near perfect 4th/5th OF, so he remains. Nice defender at all 3 spots, and can also play 1B, though Lucroy has pretty much picked up the extra AB's there...though probably not for much longer. He's done a fine job taking walks and looking good at the plate even without plus results so far.

That said, it makes twice now in just a few months Sale has been, at best, a loudmouth and not very bright. While it would not scare me away from him if I were a contending GM, it would give me pause and order plenty of background checks on him before swapping 5 of my best youngsters for him.

7/23/2016 06:14:00 PM

These are the good old days. Some folks are just too busy wishing the streets were paved with gold to enjoy the good times.

Whatever strikes me as
interesting, and serious Milwaukee Brewers thoughts. If you are a believer
in respecting OBP, throwing strikes, and keeping the ball in the park,
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